Insecticidal toxins derived from funnel web (atrax or hadronyche) spiders

摘要

The invention relates to toxins from venom of Australian funnel web spider species. Eight toxins are specifically exemplified. The toxins have a molecular weight of approximately 4000 amu., containing 36-37 amino acids, and are capable of forming 3 intrachain disulphide bridges. Polynucleotides which encode the toxins, insect viruses and plants which express the toxins and variants of the toxins are also included.